A Longmont woman who was cited last year on suspicion of hitting a bicyclist in her van -- before apologizing to the rider and driving away -- has been fined $100 plus court fees after pleading guilty to driving an unsafe or defective vehicle, according to the Boulder County District Attorney's Office.

According to police, Carol Kobel, 62, was driving a green Volkswagen van north on 15th Street near Spruce Street in Boulder on May 11 when she turned right in front of a bicyclist. The cyclist was unable to stop and hit her arm and head on the back of the van.

The victim said Kobel stopped for a moment and told the cyclist she didn't see her and apologized before driving away. The victim did not immediately call police but began experiencing dizziness later that night. She was taken by ambulance to the hospital where she was treated for possible brain injuries.

Police began searching for the van and eventually contacted Kobel in September, charging her with careless driving resulting in injury and driving an unsafe or defective vehicle. According to police, Kobel told investigators that she wasn't aware of hitting the bicyclist, but said that the two had a short conversation at the time of the incident.

Kobel on Friday pleaded guilty to the defective vehicle charge, a Class A traffic offense. The careless driving charge was dropped. Kobel was charged $139.50 including the $100 defective vehicle fine and associated court costs, according to the court records.

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